Great stuff as usual! I have to disagree with you when you say you shouldn't be booking for 1.25 or 1.5 cpp for example through the chase portal. This cannot be a hard and fast rule, there are situations where 1.5 or 1.25 cpp is a needed or even quite good redemption. For example I had an emergency situation this summer where I had to get 5 people to the Caribbean within a week and the cash prices were super expensive, a couple thousand per person. I ended up booking through the chase portal for 1.25 cpp and it was a very good redemption IMO, due to the circumstances. Even though I had to 'sacrifice ' over 200K UR points, I was happy to get that done. I do however agree with you on the 10,000 points per hour benchmark for long haul biz class flights. Cheers.
I'd use it more as a guideline rather than a hard and fast rule if you're choosing between different options. Emergencies definitely trump most rules about optimization though, because by definition you don't have many options there. We had a podcast early on where we were discussing if it's a good idea to use points to escape a hurricane (P.S. It is. Do whatever you need to do to escape a hurricane).
Any chance you would do a video on “bidding up” using cash/points on those international flights that allow this using PlusGrade or similar system that airlines use? What strategies work best?
Yes, please create the Venn diagram. I am Canadian and we don’t have much guidance and what we do have comes at a very high price. Love your content but not sure if you also have tips for your friendly neighbours up North. You’ve mentioned AirCanada but we don’t have access to many of the credit cards you’ve mentioned. Trying to make sense of all of this from a Canadian perspective but it’s tough. Debating if I’ll have more luck in your Patreon group.
Will do! It's in the works and I hope to release it soon! We also have a few different podcast episodes featuring Canadians if you search TH-cam for "Geobreeze Travel Aeroplan" or "Geobreeze Travel Air Canada". Prince of Travel is also a fantastic resource for Canadians.
We book them for clients all the time and teach many people to DIY book them as well, but they can definitely be tricky. Which routes have you tried booking?
The points shaming is real. Did I spend just an exorbitant amount of points on four business class seats? Yes. But I got like $27k+ of value. Four adults and my baby on Singapore Airlines with a stop over on Signapore and a stop over in Japan to and from Thailand. That's isane that I only paid taxes and fees for that (and about $650 for the baby). Couldn't have done it without toje content and coaching!
Great stuff as usual! I have to disagree with you when you say you shouldn't be booking for 1.25 or 1.5 cpp for example through the chase portal.
This cannot be a hard and fast rule, there are situations where 1.5 or 1.25 cpp is a needed or even quite good redemption.
For example I had an emergency situation this summer where I had to get 5 people to the Caribbean within a week and the cash prices were super expensive, a couple thousand per person. I ended up booking through the chase portal for 1.25 cpp and it was a very good redemption IMO, due to the circumstances. Even though I had to 'sacrifice ' over 200K UR points, I was happy to get that done.
I do however agree with you on the 10,000 points per hour benchmark for long haul biz class flights.
Cheers.
I'd use it more as a guideline rather than a hard and fast rule if you're choosing between different options. Emergencies definitely trump most rules about optimization though, because by definition you don't have many options there. We had a podcast early on where we were discussing if it's a good idea to use points to escape a hurricane (P.S. It is. Do whatever you need to do to escape a hurricane).
Thanks so much. Yes, downloadable points chart. Thx
thank you! I'll get to work on making it!
Any chance you would do a video on “bidding up” using cash/points on those international flights that allow this using PlusGrade or similar system that airlines use? What strategies work best?
yes, I have that on my to do list! please subscribe and stay tuned!
I’d like to see your points transfer Venn diagram.
I'll go ahead and make one!
Me too! Yes, please.
Yes, please create the Venn diagram. I am Canadian and we don’t have much guidance and what we do have comes at a very high price. Love your content but not sure if you also have tips for your friendly neighbours up North. You’ve mentioned AirCanada but we don’t have access to many of the credit cards you’ve mentioned. Trying to make sense of all of this from a Canadian perspective but it’s tough. Debating if I’ll have more luck in your Patreon group.
Will do! It's in the works and I hope to release it soon! We also have a few different podcast episodes featuring Canadians if you search TH-cam for "Geobreeze Travel Aeroplan" or "Geobreeze Travel Air Canada". Prince of Travel is also a fantastic resource for Canadians.
@@geobreezetravel Thank you! I will look into that.
USBAR would be a perfect card for redeeming points for trains.
nice! 1.5 cents per point when redeeming for travel including trains, is that right?
@@geobreezetravel yup
Sweet spots are impossible to book
We book them for clients all the time and teach many people to DIY book them as well, but they can definitely be tricky. Which routes have you tried booking?
The points shaming is real. Did I spend just an exorbitant amount of points on four business class seats? Yes. But I got like $27k+ of value. Four adults and my baby on Singapore Airlines with a stop over on Signapore and a stop over in Japan to and from Thailand. That's isane that I only paid taxes and fees for that (and about $650 for the baby). Couldn't have done it without toje content and coaching!
Saving $27k+ on Singapore Airlines is amazing! Enjoy the trip!!